Entropy produced by magnetic energy density fluctuations in the quiet Sun

TL;DR

This study applies the Fluctuation Theorem to magnetic energy density fluctuations in the quiet Sun's atmosphere, demonstrating non-equilibrium behavior and Markov properties, and providing insights into solar magnetic dynamics.

Contribution

First application of the Fluctuation Theorem to an astronomical environment, analyzing magnetic energy fluctuations and their statistical properties in the quiet Sun.

Findings

Magnetic energy density is intermittent and non-equilibrium.

The Fluctuation Theorem is validated in an astronomical setting.

Magnetic field dynamics depend on field strength, showing non-linear behavior.

Abstract

D.J. Evans, et al., [Phys. Rev. Lett. 71, 2401 (1993)] discovered a relation, subsequently known as the Fluctuation Theorem (FT), which quantifies the probability of observing fluctuations violating the second law of thermodynamics in thermostatted dissipative non-equilibrium systems. The FT has been confirmed experimentally for small systems. We analyze fluctuations of the total entropy production related to the distribution of the magnetic energy density in the quiet Sun lower atmosphere inferred by means of spectro-polarimetric observations. We show that the magnetic energy density is intermittent, at non-equilibrium and has the Markov property. The applicability of the FT is proven for the first time in an astronomical environment in spite of the seemingly large scales involved. We also found a non-linear behavior of the probability current, indicating that the dynamics of the magnetic field depends on the field strength. On average, however, the observed non-equilibrium behavior is governed by the second law of thermodynamics for open systems. Our results provide novel constraints for testing the hypothesizes of the solar local dynamo, which should be consistent with the inferred statistics of the fluctuations.